Todd Frazier making strong push to start All-Star Game
By Tim Haberin
You could certainly make a claim that Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier is one of baseball’s most underappreciated stars. Never exactly one to grab headlines, Frazier is putting up monster numbers this year in rather quiet fashion. In a season with relatively few reasons to cheer in Cincinnati, his performance has been a genuine source of excitement.
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As we approach the end of June, Frazier finds himself near the top of the list in numerous offensive categories. The 169 total bases he has racked up lead the majors. His 23 home runs are the third-most in the National League and his 48 RBI are good for fifth. He is also second in runs scored (51), third in doubles (20), third in slugging percentage (.631) and fourth in OPS (.987). Add to that a .291/.357/.631 slash line and you have the makings of a banner year.
According to MLB.com’s latest ballot update, Frazier may be closing in on having his achievements rewarded at the Midsummer Classic. He currently trails Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter by about 1.2 million votes. Frazier is moving in the right direction, however; MLB points out that he was more than 2.5 million off the pace only last week.
Carpenter is having a nice season in his own right (.291/.389/.485), but Frazier should be the clear choice to start at the hot corner for the NL All-Star squad. While he has always had pop in his bat, Frazier’s power production has skyrocketed so far this season. He has already nearly matched last year’s career-high home run total (29) in late June. His isolated power (ISO) currently stands at an eye-popping .340, behind only premier sluggers Bryce Harper (.383) and Giancarlo Stanton (.343). Extra bases are certainly coming easily to Frazier this year.
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Frazier first made baseball news as a 12-year-old after leading his Toms River, New Jersey team to the 1998 Little League World Series title. Since coming up through the Reds system, he has put together a solid pro career. He finished third in 2012’s NL Rookie of the Year voting after hitting .273 with 19 homers and 67 RBI. His batting average dipped to .234 the following season, but he rebounded last year by once again hitting .273 along with career bests in home runs (29) and RBI (80).
The present campaign actually got off to a somewhat inauspicious start for Frazier, who was hitting .238 at the close of April. He has been making up for that in a big way recently, especially in the past few weeks. Since June 6, he has put up a formidable .368/.394/.794 batting line. He has swatted five home runs in his last six games, including back-to-back two-homer performances on June 16 and 17. If Frazier wants to sway All-Star voters, he is certainly heating up at the right time and doing so in imposing fashion.
Of course, with the MLB All-Star Game set to take place in Cincinnati’s Great American Ball Park, Frazier would get the added honor of playing hometown hero. He will likely be on the NL roster one way or another, and after making an appearance in last year’s Home Run Derby he could very well participate again in front of a home crowd. An introduction as part of the starting lineup, however, would be a fitting and well-deserved distinction.